Chapter 258

He looked at her.

There was no anger in his face, but she could see the calculation behind his eyes. Adrian had spent too much of his life anticipating threats to simply stop doing so. He was always looking for the hidden detail, the overlooked connection, the possibility that someone was lying.

It was part of what made him good at what he did. He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

"I don’t want to make you feel like you have to report every conversation you have," he said. "And I don’t want to frighten you into avoiding people simply because I don’t trust them."

He went on. "But I need you to understand that Ethan isn’t just some awkward student who wants a study partner."

"I understand."

"Do you?"

"Yes, Adrian."

She squeezed his hand.

"I know he’s working with my Dad. I know we don’t know how much he’s told him or what he’s trying to find out. I know he could be using me to get to you."

Adrian studied her face. "But?"

Emilia sighed.

"But I also know what he looks like when he talks to me. I know how he behaves. And if I spend the entire time assuming every person who smiles at me is secretly planning something, I’ll never be able to think clearly about any of them."

He didn’t interrupt.

"So I’m not going to agree to spend the weekend with him just because he asked. But I’m not going to run away from him either. If he’s trying to find out what I know, perhaps we can learn something from him, too."

Adrian was quiet for several seconds. Then he nodded. "That’s fair."

Emilia blinked. "Really? I was prepared for a lecture."

"I had one ready." He joked.

She laughed.

"But you made a reasonable argument, so I’ve decided to spare you."

"How generous." She gave him a look.

"I’m known for my generosity."

"By whom?"

"Myself."

She burst out laughing, and the tension in his shoulders eased. Adrian brought her hand to his mouth again, kissing her palm this time.

"I don’t want you walking into something dangerous just to prove you aren’t afraid of it," he said quietly.

"I won’t."

Adrian shook his head, then drew her closer by the waist. "Come here."

She went willingly, resting her cheek against his chest. His arms settled around her, and for a moment, they stood quietly beneath the pull-up bar.

Emilia listened to his heartbeat.

It was steady, and familiar.

She slipped her arms around him and held on a little tighter. "I’m glad I can talk and laugh with you," she whispered.

Adrian lowered his head, pressing a kiss to her hair. "I’m glad you can."

After a while, she tilted her face up to look at him. "So."

His eyebrows rose. "So?"

"Are we going to keep standing here having a serious conversation, or are you going to teach me how to do a proper pull-up?"

Adrian stared at her. Then he laughed. "Absolutely not."

"Excuse me?"

"You nearly dislocated your shoulders trying to get one repetition."

"That is an exaggeration."

"You lasted approximately three seconds."

"I lasted longer than that!"

"Would you like me to time you next time?"

She narrowed her eyes. She tapped his chest with one finger. "Teach me."

Adrian looked at the bar, then at her. "You’re persistent."

"I’m determined."

He sighed as though she had asked him to climb a mountain, then reached for his towel.

"Fine. But we’re starting with something easier."

Emilia beamed. "Really?"

"Squats."

Her smile vanished. "Adrian."

He slung the towel over his shoulder. "Sweetheart."

"I came here to spend time with you."

"And now you’re going to spend time with your quadriceps."

She stared at him in disbelief.

Adrian watched her, the corner of his mouth lifting.

"Since you’re clearly enjoying yourself, let me remind you of something."

Emilia looked up at him. "What?"

"Today is Saturday."

She blinked. "I know that."

"Good. Then you also know what that means."

A smile slowly spread across her face. "Dinner?"

"Dinner," he confirmed, slipping an arm around her waist. "So, sweetheart, which restaurant would you love to go to this time?"

Emilia laughed, leaning against him.

"We go to dinners every Saturday lately. It’s cute."

"Cute?" He raised an eyebrow. "That’s what you’re calling it?"

"Yes." She tilted her head, looking up at him. "It’s cute."

Adrian smiled and brushed his thumb over her waist.

"It’s because you really love dinners. And you always change my palate, make me try new food and meals I’d never have tried on my own."

Emilia giggled.

"You make it sound like I’m forcing you."

"You once looked me in the eye and told me I couldn’t claim to love food if I refused to try something simply because I’d never heard of it."

"Because you can’t!"

"And then you ordered something so spicy I spent ten minutes reconsidering our relationship."

She burst out laughing. "You loved it!"

"I love you. The food was a separate matter."

Emilia pressed a hand to her chest. "Adrian Ashford, are you suggesting my taste is questionable?"

"I’m suggesting that dating you has been an adventure for my palate."

She shook her head, still laughing, before wrapping her arms around his waist. "So, where are we going this time?"

He looked down at her, his expression softening. "That’s for you to decide."

"Anywhere?"

"Anywhere you want, sweetheart."

Emilia pretended to consider it, tapping a finger against her chin.

"Somewhere with good food, a beautiful atmosphere, and desserts that make me question every decision I’ve ever made about my life."

Adrian chuckled. "Very specific."

"I have standards."

"Of course you do."

"And you have to try whatever I order."

He sighed dramatically. "I knew there would be conditions."

"Adrian."

"Fine. I’ll try whatever you order."

She beamed and kissed his cheek. "I love you."

His smile turned warmer.

"Careful, sweetheart. Keep saying things like that, and I’ll start thinking these Saturday dinners are working in my favour."

"They are."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Then pick a restaurant, Emilia. I’ll make the reservation."

She glanced toward the bench where her sunflowers and Cartier box rested, then back at the man holding her.

For a moment, she thought there was something wonderfully ordinary about it all. The flowers, the teasing, the promise of another Saturday night together.

And perhaps that was what she loved most.

She smiled. "I think I know just the place."

Adrian kissed her once more. "Then it’s a date."